Completed Event: Men's Ice Hockey versus Princeton on February 28, 2026 , Tie , 2, to, 2 , (SO, L)
Final
Men's Ice Hockey
vs Princeton
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Spotlight On Senior Captain Brian Van Abel
11/30/2003 7:00:00 PM | Men's Ice Hockey
Nov. 5, 2003
Most athletes are usually given time to mature and grow into their roles.
In that vein, senior Brian Van Abel has matured into one of Dartmouth's top defensemen on the men's hockey team. He wasn't given the luxury, however, of growing into his new role as team captain for the 2003-04 season.
"It is a little different now," said Van Abel. "You have to assume a bit more leadership and realize that you are the senior that everyone is looking to for support. You miss the guys from the class above because they're not around for guidance. It's different being the one everyone looks up to but it's been good."
Van Abel added, "Being captain is especially different in the locker room. You try to help the younger guys out with any questions they might have.
"My first year I came in and had no idea what to expect. Now that I'm a senior and only have one more year, I'm much more confident. I usually know what's coming next," Van Abel said.
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Head Coach Bob Gaudet added, "Brian is a true leader. He's been a mainstay of our program and our defense for three years now. We think highly of Brian and he's a strong, team-oriented player."
Van Abel knows that as captain he needs to lead a relatively young group of players who have a chance at putting Dartmouth men's hockey on the map as a national contender.
"I think we have a really good group of guys, both returning and new. We're young on defense and we're going to have to gain some experience, but come playoff time, we're going to be a very solid team," Van Abel said.
Assistant captain Lee Stempniak complimented Van Abel. "Brian is doing a great job as captain," said the junior. "He's a hard working and talented player who leads by example both on and off the ice. He has had our team focused and prepared for the season and is a great leader in the locker room."
Van Abel is impressed with this year's version of the Big Green. "Just watching this team the past few weeks makes me believe we have the most talented players on the ice in my three years here," he said. "Additionally everyone seems to have the work ethic that would allow us to take our game to another level."
That's a pretty loaded statement for Van Abel but he could be right. The Big Green finished the 2002-03 campaign 20-13-1, 13-9 in the ECAC. The 20-win season was the first for Dartmouth since 1947-48.
"We have put together a solid team on defense and Brian is a big part of that," said Gaudet. "Brian and Mike Turner are our lone upperclassmen on the defensive line so we expect big things from both of them. Brian is a true defenseman in every sense of the word because of his physical style of play. He's logged valuable ice time for us, and I don't see that changing this year."
Van Abel has been not only a mainstay on the ice but in the classroom as well. An economics major, he's been named both ECAC All-Academic and Academic All-Ivy. Last May he was presented with Dartmouth's Class of 1948 Scholar-Athlete award.
"Academics was a big reason I came to Dartmouth. It was an opportunity to play not only with a top-level program but to get an Ivy League education - the best of both worlds." Van Abel said.
"Before I make a decision regarding what I'm going to do after I graduate, I'm going to wait and see how this year goes," he said. "If I have a good season on the ice, I would love to try and play hockey professionally."
Van Abel clearly has the potential to grow into a great business executive or a great hockey player - and probably both.
Players Mentioned
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